Puzzles

An analogy that I have developed with the help of the spirit is based on a memory of my mother.

In Salt Lake we had a large basement and we inherited a kitchen table from one of our Great Grandparents. Since we had a kitchen table Mom and Dad put the table in the basement. Over the years it was used for a lot of things, but one of the activities I like the most were puzzles.

Mom loved puzzles and it wasn’t unusual that there was a puzzle in process at all times. As kids we loved to participate but found some puzzle too difficult for us to do. Mom would purchase easier puzzles and then teach us how to assemble them. I remember those times distinctly. She would dump the puzzle out and then start turning the pieces over. She would separate out the edges and start sorting the other pieces by color and other similar characteristics. She would then assemble the edge.

We soon learned that the edge was probably the simplest part of the puzzle and we would scramble to find the pieces and put them together as once the edge was done there was a sense of accomplishment that would push us to complete the rest of the puzzle.

We would then look for patterns and similar pieces and begin the process of matching. We often became frustrated when the pieces where hard to find and wouldn't assemble the way we wanted them to. Mom would calm us and tell us to be patient and to keep looking. She seemed to find the pieces with ease, almost like she knew every piece personally. In time the pace of the puzzle would pick up and near the end it almost put itself together.

It was always fun to look at the finish puzzle and admire it and feel a sense of pride for helping to assemble the pictures. Once completed we would tear it apart piece by piece but it in the box, shake it up and then dump it out. In time the puzzle became familiar and we could put it together with ease. We would then tired of it and want another challenge so Mom would buy us another puzzle. One with more pieces.

Each new puzzle present new challenges and were always harder to put together. Some were so difficult that most of us kids would give up and then wait for Mom to finish it. She was always patient and would sit for hours studying the pieces and finally putting the puzzle together. From time to time us kids would try and help and we would find it too difficult and quit. We would pick up pieces and try and make them fit and Mom would instinctively know that it wasn’t the right pieces. She was amazing.

I feel that our scriptures studies are like puzzles. God who is the master puzzle builder has devised the greatest puzzle ever and it is found in the standard works of the church. They are the basis and the foundation of our Gospel knowledge. There are multiple levels or puzzles that one can put together and they testify of the same thing.

Some are very simple and are design for our primary children. They are easy to assemble and simple to understand and help those who have assemble to prepare for greater learning. But at times we look at the finished puzzle and have more question then answers and we have to graduate to harder puzzles that challenge us and push us to a greater understanding. I would say that is the puzzle that our youth use to understand. Much of that understanding comes from seminary and through their youth they put it together. Once completed they have a stronger testimony of Christ and his mission and they have a desire to serve. 

Somewhere in the young adult years they will find the puzzle once again has only provided more questions than answers and then embark on perhaps the most difficult puzzle of their life. Fortunately God doesn’t leave us alone to our own understanding but gives us the temple as a key to that understanding. This puzzle is so complex that the time to assemble this puzzle is considerable lengthy and can consume a whole life time.

In my scripture studies I now spend time searching for the many pieces that are available on any topic. Once the process is completed the picture becomes clear and provides new meaning. So here is a key. You need to search out all the information on anyone topic before you can come to a true understanding.

Try it and see!

Brother B